Originally published at National Catholic Register
Carolyn Woo argued for the restoration of federal aid to CRS.
The former president and CEO of Catholic Relief Services (CRS), Carolyn Woo, is speaking out in defense of the aid organization amid Trump administration funding cuts to its services internationally.
“International aid was started at first for the benefit of the U.S., even though the aid goes overseas,” Woo said during an appearance on EWTN News In Depth Friday evening, arguing that international aid to organizations like CRS is important “for two major reasons”: security and prosperity.
Woo led CRS from 2012 to 2016. The organization’s current president and CEO is Sean Callahan.
“Security is achieved when countries are working well,” she said. “There are not as many incidences of conflicts or terrorism. In addition to that, it also allows us to have understanding and intelligence from that area.”
In terms of prosperity, Woo argued that most economic and population growth occurs in developing countries, which she predicted “will become very important markets for the United States,” for exports, precious minerals, food and other goods. “When we invest in these other countries, we’re actually investing in the base that allows all of us to grow,” she said.
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